24 Apr 2023 11:54:47
Rumours increasing that we're going for Ndicka?

Ed002, said a couple of weeks ago that we're interested but another party is pushing for a pre-contract agreement.

Are we now entering the race?

{Ed002's Note - Evan Ndicka (CB) His agents are pushing for a pre-contract agreement to sign for Barcelona, Arsenal or Spurs as a Free Agent in the summer. Was expected to leave last summer and was seen as an option for Newcastle and West Ham but stayed to seek a more lucrative move as a free agent. Roma had an interest in the player and have spoken with the player and informed Eintracht Frankfurt of their interest which could have led to a January transfer at a low fee but the demands of his agent (a €15M signing on fee) ended that. Arsenal are fearful of Saliba or Gabriel will leave hence their interest in him. Liverpool offer an option if they wish to upgrade Matip. Manchester City will be making a change at CB so should be considered an option. Marseille and Inter Milan have him high on their list of targets. A wildcard could be Manchester United who will look to add two CBs in the summer, but he will be down the list for them.}

1.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 12:39:47
Ed002 is the his agent still seeking a €15m signing on fee? That's obscene. I'd hope we will walk away if that is the case. It defeats the object of a free transfer if the associated costs are that high anyway.

{Ed002's Note - Any Free Agent will involve a significant signing on fee.}

2.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:12:07
Nothing in life is free, right?

Seriously though, I'd hope we only sign players that fit the way we intend to play and not because they may be out of contract or into their final year. We do not want to become Juventus or Barcelona.

If there is a clear plan for Ndicka because of his skillset then fine but if not, Bella-Kotchap, Tapsoba, Inacio and Colwill should be looked at. They are all very good on the ball.

Sounds like Silva, Gvardiol and Araujo would be financially out of the question.

3.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:25:53
Thanks, Ed. €15m for an upgrade on Matip sounds pretty good to me.

4.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:49:54
That's my point FPF. I'd guess the interest in him is largely circumstantial because of his contract situation. If he's going to still cost a lot we're better picking a player we would have an interest in regardless of their contract. Surely we can buy a 4th choice centre back for pretty close to €15m anyway. Maybe raid one of the Prem teams that get relegated for their best CB.

Faes - Leicester
Bella-Kotchap - Saints
Niakhate - Forest

Ndicka plays in a back 3 and although he is a talented young player, for me that means that he's only really the best option if he's considerably cheaper than other alternatives.

5.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 13:26:51
Yeah that's understandable Ed002, but €15m is higher than the norm isn't it?

{Ed002's Note - It varies.}

6.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 14:09:06
Ed002 with a £15m signing on fee what kind off wages would he be looking for if around £80k I think that’s great business if more closer to the £200k I’ve not seen him but play but that’s a lot more of a risk.

{Ed002's Note - I have really no interest in discussing money.}

7.) 24 Apr 2023
24 Apr 2023 22:44:15
MK, Haaland's agent received 34 million for the transfer from Dortmund to ManCity. That's obscene.

I guess the new FIFA limit of 10% (on transfer value) for agent commissions should settle things down a bit. But I have no idea if this applies to free agents and signing on fees, as well.

8.) 25 Apr 2023
25 Apr 2023 06:58:09
It's getting sickening ArAy. Players and agents draining the money out the game into their Swiss bank accounts whilst the owners (most of whom are actually losing money) take all the flak for being greedy.

For me the signing on fee for a free transfer should be comparable to 5% of what the transfer fee was likely to be. All players get 5% of their fee unless they handed in a written transfer request so i can see why for fairness a free agent should get a larger signing on fee. €15m though? For context that's roughly the signing bonus a player would get in a €300m transfer deal. Hence my calling it obscene.

As for agent fees, they should quite simply be payable by the players. You employ them, you pay them. The games broken and it's sleepwalking into a super league because eventually that'll be the only option to generate enough money to pay the players and agents.